System and method for authenticating transmission and receipt of electronic information

Abstract

A communication system (10 and 100) is provided with a verification mechanism (16) to identify both the sender and recipient of electronic information (20). Input devices (12) in cooperation with verification mechanism (16) may be used to confirm the identity and authority of a sender to place electronic information (20) on communications network (14). Output devices (18) in cooperation with verification mechanism (16) may be used to confirm the identity and authority of a recipient of electronic information (20). Verification mechanism (16) and communication network (14) may also provide the sender and the recipient with an automatic date time stamp for delivery of electronic information (20).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for authenticating the transmission of electronic information, comprising: a plurality of input devices for accepting electronic information and sender's identification information;   a verification mechanism for verifying the sender and a recipient;   a secure storage with templates, said secure storage having a time-stamp of transmission of electronic information transfer;   a communication network for transmitting the electronic information;   a transmission verification signal to said communication network;   a receipt verification signal to said communication network; and   a plurality of output devices for receiving the electronic information and accepting recipient identification information.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein said input and output devices accept spoken voice identification information. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2, wherein said verification mechanism comprises a voice recognition system. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 2, wherein said secure medium of storage comprises spoken voice templates. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1, wherein said input and output devices accept written signature identification information. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5, wherein said verification mechanism comprises a signature recognition system. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 5, wherein said secure medium of storage comprises written signature templates. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 1, wherein said input and output devices accept spoken voice and written signature identification information. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 8, wherein said verification mechanism comprises a voice and signature recognition system. 
     
     
       10. The system of claim 8, wherein said secure medium of storage comprises spoken voice and written signature templates. 
     
     
       11. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication network automatically sends the time-stamp of the transmission of the electronic information to the recipient. 
     
     
       12. A method for authenticating the transmission of electronic information, comprising the steps of; inputting electronic information and the sender's identification information;   verifying the sender of the electronic information;   storing identification information;   transmitting the electronic information on a communication network;   providing a transmission verification signal to said communication network;   inputting the recipient's identification information;   providing a receipt verification signal to said communication network;   outputting the electronic information; and   providing automatically a time-stamp of the transmission of the electronic information transfer to the sender.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of inputting the sender's and recipient's spoken voice identification information. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of verifying the spoken voices of the sender and recipient. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of storing spoken voice identification templates. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of inputting the sender's and recipient's written signature identification information. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of verifying the written signature of the sender and recipient. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the written signature identification templates. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of inputting the sender's and recipient's spoken voice and written signature identification information. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of verifying the spoken voice and written signature of the sender and recipient. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of storing the spoken voice and written signature identification templates. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of storing the time-stamp of the transmission of the electronic information transfer. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of transmitting the time-stamp of the electronic information transfer to the sender automatically.